Registration for a permit is accomplished through an internet link portal made available on Garnet Gateway. Please be careful to ensure that all the information submitted is accurate for interaction with the other computer database. Please DO NOT make repeated or multiple submissions for a permit. The cost for student permits are billed directly to student accounts. (The cost of the permit will be shown on the Garnet Gateway registration process – prorated for 2nd Semester or Short Term)

Permit requests will be processed with a numbered permit issued to the vehicle and entered into the database. The assigned permit will delivered to the student via the campus mailbox system through Post and Print. (Permits are not mailed to an address off campus). Permits must be affixed to the appropriate vehicles, and the envelopes will have instructions.

All employees may obtain a no-cost parking permit from Campus Safety as part of their employment. The permit allows parking in any designated employee lot or space. Registration for a permit is accomplished through an internet link portal made available on Garnet Gateway, or available to pick up in person at Campus Safety dispatch office. New staff orientation provides guidance with the Garnet Gateway process (make sure you have available or know your vehicle information).

Visitors should obtain a permit to park their vehicle on campus overnight. Visitor parking permits can be obtained from the office of Campus Safety at 245 College St.

This no-cost parking permit that will allow them to park in any designated visitor lot or space. (The Olin Lot, accessed off North Bardwell St, is the preferred area for overnight visitor vehicles to park).

A visitor is defined as any person not employed with or enrolled at Bates College, who occasionally has business or another reason to be on campus.

The most frequent occurrence for a vehicle being towed is that a vehicle has been issued five or more tickets on campus and is not registered with Campus Safety for contact information to be known.

Vehicles may also be towed when parked illegally or not in a designated space, or when blocking access for emergency vehicles or service vehicles. In particular, Fire Lane areas must be maintained open for fire vehicles to navigate.

No. Students who are enrolled and living in off-campus housing are not considered visitors and are required to have a student permit.

Temporary permits are primarily issued to those who already have a parking permit and have a temporary need for use of another vehicle while the permitted vehicle is off site (repair, other family use, etc.). The party should go to Campus Safety to request a temporary permit. It will be verified that the party has a parking permit and a temporary permit will be issued with no cost for that limited period of use. Temporary permits must be displayed on the rear view mirror or dashboard, facing toward the windshield of the vehicle so that the printed information is visible from outside.

There are circumstances which might require a vehicle being brought to campus for a short duration of up to a couple week, which includes overnight parking (arrivals/departures, limited appointment needs, between Thanksgiving and end of 1st semester). These requests will be reviewed, and there is a $15.00 fee charged for the permit administration for students who are not registered with a parking permit.

NOTE that temporary permits are NOT issued in the event of a snow storm parking ban when there will be peak demand for the limited parking spaces available on campus. (In such instances, those vehicles without a permit are expected to utilize parking which the City makes available).

Accessibility permits are available for students who have a registered vehicle on campus, and due to an illness, injury or other medical reason have a mobility issue which significantly limits their walking distance. Requests for an Accessibility permit must be made by emailing Health Services.

Accessibility permits are temporary and are valid only for the duration of the medical issue, and valid only for such designated use in parking spaces on Bates campus; these permits are not legally recognized for parking in accessibility spaces off campus. The permit is exclusive to the registered vehicle to which it is assigned.

The parking permit decal must be applied to the rear most window on the driver’s side of the vehicle; preferably situated in the lower righthand corner.  If you have questions about placement of a parking permit call Campus Safety at 786-6254.

The student parking permits are designed to “void” when removed after proper affixing to the glass surface. If a permit is “voided” or shows other visible evidence of tampering, it is being improperly displayed and liable to result in a ticket. A damaged or “voided” permit needs to be removed and replaced.

Visitor permits and temporary permits must be displayed on the rear view mirror or dashboard, facing toward the windshield of the vehicle so that the printed information is visible from outside.

Lost or stolen permits must be reported to Campus Safety immediately.

If a permit is damaged or needs to be exchanged, please remove the old permit from the vehicle and bring it to the office of Campus Safety. A replacement permit can then be issued in exchange for the former permit without additional cost.

This deliberate action is a violation of the college’s parking policy. This may result in the vehicle being towed, and the owner being fined and/or referred to the Student Conduct Committee. Altered permits will be confiscated, and the vehicle’s owner could lose their parking privileges for the remainder of the academic year.

Students will be referred to the Office of Community Standards.

Please remove the old permit from the former vehicle it was issued to, and bring it to the office of Campus Safety. A replacement permit can then be issued in exchange for the former permit without additional cost.

If you bring a different vehicle to campus than what was the information you used to registered for a permit with, and the permit has not yet been attached, those changes need to be communicated to the Parking Coordinator at Campus Safety to properly identify the vehicle with the permit.

Parking On Campus FAQs